DC United defeated Sporting Kansas City last night (March 8) at Audi Field, 2-1. The win broke a long winless streak at home dating back to last summer (July 13 against Nashville, to be precise).
Before the game, there was another great Screaming Eagles tailgate. The raptors were in the house at the Henson Conservation Center (including the red-tailed hawk shown above) and Cesar served a delicious "mystery sandwich" (and this mystery was good!) with his usual grill fare.
DC's starting lineup was
Kim in goal
Schnegg, Rowles, Bartlett, Herrera on defense
Enow, Kijima in defensive midfield
Joao Peglow, Pirani, Stroud in midfield
Benteke at forward
Subs: Murrell for Stroud (70th minute), Peltola for Enow (72nd minute; he inexplicably stood at the center line for 2 minutes before being waved on), Badji for Benteke (81st minute), Servania for Peglow (81st) and Lukas McNaughton for Pirani (81st)
DC was slightly better in the first half. Schnegg hit a nice cross to Pirani in the 5th minute, but his shot was saved. Benteke missed a bicycle kick in the 21st minute, and a header off a cross from Herrera in the 42nd minute. It was 0-0 at halftime.
The second half started well, with Stroud crossing in from the 49th minute right in front of the goal. Benteke just missed a tapin, and Schnegg shot high at the far post.
KC had been quiet, but that changed in the 53rd minute. Defensive lapses let Kansas City's Shapi Suleymanov break down the right side. He passed in to Jake Davis, who centered to Erik Thommy at top of the box for an easy shot. Kim was sliding towards the center of the box and could not react as the shot went just to his left. Against the run of play, it was 1-0 Kansas City.
Benteke attempted to equalize from the 6 yard box in the 58th minute but KC goalkeeper John Pulskamp made a nice save. However, a minute later Peglow stole a pass and was taken down in the box for a penalty. Benteke did equalize with his penalty kick, tying the game at 1-1 in the 60th minute.
The game opened up after this. Suleymanov hit the post for KC in the 66th minute, and Peglow crossed to Kijima in the 68th minute for an elegant redirected header to put DC up 2-1.
DC went defensive after the 81st minute; a triple substitution (bringing off Benteke, and substituting defender McNaughton for midfielder Pirani). DC (especially Badji) spent a lot of time in the offensive corners, running the time down. There was one last scare at the end of the game when KC sent a free kick into the box, but Kim claimed the ball despite a foul by KC's Jansen Miller.
DC finished with 11 shots (4 on goal) and 6 corner kicks. The referee gave out lots of yellow cards: 6 for DC, 4 for KC.
Next game: vs Montreal at Audi Field, Saturday March 15, 730pm Eastern.
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